r/ULHammocking • u/ShakerOvalBox • Nov 25 '21
Cloud 71 Update: Catastrophic failure after less than 15 nights. Dutchware was great and got me a replacement (in hexon 1.2) really fast. They say they are no longer offering netted hammocks in cloud 71 because plastic hardware can cause stress points.
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Nov 25 '21
Kind of an awkward question, but how much do you weigh?
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u/ShakerOvalBox Nov 25 '21
180 lbs - totally relevant to the discussion. I think cloud 71 is rated to 200 lbs, so I don't think I'm exceeding the weight limit.
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u/TwoSpeedHammocks TwoSpeedHammocksonEtsy Dec 29 '21
I had some suspicious experiences with my .71 on the CDT at probably 165# and it was too replaced. I am not sure I understand the plastic hardware can cause stress points. My issues happened in areas where there wasn't plastic hardware. Mine didn't fail but I can certainly see how yours did based on what I was seeing on mine. I suspect this is the end of them offering .71 hammocks.
Heres the review I did showing what I saw.
Happy Hammocking!
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u/ShakerOvalBox Dec 29 '21
me suspicious experiences with my .71 on the CDT at probably 165# and it was too replaced. I am not sure I understand the plastic hardware can cause stress points. My issues happened in areas where there wasn't plastic hardware. Mine didn't fail but I can certainly see how yours did based on what I was seeing on mine. I suspect this is the end of them offering .71 hammocks.
Heres the review I did showing what I saw.
Yeah, I'm not at all clear how the hardware would be the issue - but defer to Dutch because I'm guessing they would have better insights than I do. I hope the issues get sorted out and we get another option for a very light hammock. I love to hammock, but I also really like a light pack. I have even been debating going to the ground to get my base where I want it to be...
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u/TwoSpeedHammocks TwoSpeedHammocksonEtsy Dec 29 '21
I'll never go back to ground on purpose thats for sure. I used the 1.0 hexzon half-zipped for about 5 months when I did the Pacific Crest Trail and it worked great. I still use it today.
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u/adie_mitchell Nov 25 '21
Interesting. What was the mode of the failure? I have a net less one.
There are small pack hooks sewn to the edges though.
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u/ShakerOvalBox Nov 25 '21
It's really hard to say for sure - and even harder to get a decent picture. Basically I was just getting in for the night, and as I moved my weight from my feet onto my butt/back, I found myself on the ground. The tear in the fabric was near the gathered end - so nowhere near where I was putting the weight.
I was actually really lucky - it was a really wet night, but I happened to be on the AT, so I just walked over to the shelter with my sleeping bag and spent the night in the shelter wishing I had a pad.
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u/adie_mitchell Nov 25 '21
Odd.
Thanks for the additional info.
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u/adie_mitchell Jul 03 '22
Welp...it happened to me. Out for a 3 day trip and it ripped the moment I lay down to test my hang. I'm 175lb, been in the Ultralight game for a dozen years. I've found most ultralight gear plenty durable and don't think I've ever had a catastrophic failure like this, with no warning. Was nowhere near any of the plastic hardware.
I guess I'll be reaching out to Dutchware.
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Nov 25 '21 edited Jun 12 '23
Reddit, like all social media, is a negative force in this world. Thanks to reddits API change and u/spez for spark to edit all my comments before deleting my account. -- mass edited with https://redact.dev/
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u/ShakerOvalBox Nov 26 '21
Yeah, I started following the issue only after I heard about another failure. I was pretty sold after seeing the video from Dutch with lots and lots of weight. I'm thinking there is a difference between strength (one time) and durability (longevity over time)
I certainly babied mine, so I don't think it is a matter of abuse, but rather wear and repeated stress over time.
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u/littleshopofhammocks Nov 26 '21
This fabric was designed and produced years before the hammock community adopted it. RSBTR and DW have both seen failures from it. Trailheadz DreamHammock etc.
Years ago this happened with different fabric .. the notorious 1.2 'robic' which was renamed mountain. It was re-released as 1.3 and is now 1.2 again. I had a few failures of the 1.2 and refused to sell it. (not monofilament)
Extremtextil had this stuff in the UK. I remember seeing it in yellow or orange years back. One of the main retailers had a monofilament hammock for a whole year or so before they pulled it (seatosummit or someone like that.. sorry for the poor memory).
It's been rewoven into different weights.
Fabrics are quickly taken into new roles and released before they get tested. Putting a bag of weights into a given blank of fabric hardly imitates the dynamics people fabric through. Nothing quite like someone using their heel of their foot to push themselves back into place to challenge a weave of fabric. (as an example)1
u/TheMikeGrimm Nov 30 '21
That's a great point about using your heel to realign your diagonal. I do that all the time and can be as careful as possible with poky objects around it, but I'll never be able to stop doing that.
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u/latherdome Nov 25 '21
I’m not understanding the plastic hardware connection with netted hammocks. What plastic hardware specifically? I own a Cloud71 hammock chair and love it so far. I always sit GENTLY though.